ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. suit — clothes
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. suit — to fit
  5. tube — a container
  6. bear — the animal
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. wake — a trail
  12. suit — in cards
  13. wound — an injury
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. tube — the underground
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. wound — an injury
  24. roll — a cake

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com